Twin Cities Tenant Union Calls for Rent Strike, Eviction Moratorium

Tenants aim to pressure lawmakers to halt evictions in wake of Operation Metro Surge crackdown

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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A local tenant union in the Twin Cities is urging Minnesotans not to pay rent next month in an effort to pressure lawmakers to enact an eviction moratorium. The nonprofit Twin Cities Tenants is leading the charge for a statewide rent strike ahead of March 1, citing the ongoing impacts of the recent Operation Metro Surge crackdown that has left many renters in debt.

Why it matters

The rent strike is a response to the estimated $27 million to $51 million in rent debt accrued by Minnesota renters since the start of the Operation Metro Surge crackdown, which has led to fears of widespread evictions. Tenant advocates hope the strike will slow down the eviction process and force the state to intervene with an eviction moratorium to protect vulnerable populations.

The details

Charlie Tirey, a south Minneapolis apartment resident, is committed to not paying rent next month as part of the planned strike. A local landlord who declined to be named said the rent strike would greatly impact him, as he relies on the rental income to pay for mortgages and his children's college tuition. A University of Minnesota analysis estimates the average statewide rent debt is $44.6 million in any two-month period, and Tirey believes if 10,000 evictions are filed, it would 'muck up the courts' and slow down the process for those on the eviction list.

  • The Twin Cities Tenants union is calling for a statewide rent strike starting March 1, 2026.
  • Operation Metro Surge, a crackdown that has impacted renters, began in late 2025.

The players

Twin Cities Tenants

A local nonprofit tenant union leading the charge for a statewide rent strike in Minnesota.

Charlie Tirey

A south Minneapolis apartment resident who is committed to not paying rent next month as part of the planned rent strike.

University of Minnesota

Conducted an analysis estimating $27 million to $51 million in rent debt accrued by Minnesota renters since the start of the Operation Metro Surge crackdown.

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What they’re saying

“We need to represent the interests of our most vulnerable populations.”

— Charlie Tirey, Apartment Resident

“If there were 10,000 evictions filed in tenant court, that would muck up the courts to make the process so slow they'd never get to me.”

— Charlie Tirey, Apartment Resident

What’s next

The governor's office has not yet responded to requests for comment on the tenant union's call for an eviction moratorium.

The takeaway

This rent strike highlights the ongoing financial strain on Minnesota renters following the Operation Metro Surge crackdown, and the tenant union's efforts to pressure lawmakers to intervene and protect vulnerable populations from widespread evictions.